Brendon vs William
Brendon and Williamcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1990, Brendon was ranked #96 and William #15 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1993, Brendon was ranked #99 and William #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendon was ranked #2921 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendon and William over time
Brendon and William appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brendon in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Brendon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and William in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Brendon and William averaged 34.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #15.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Brendon #359 in 1999, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendon #2921, William #27.
New Zealand · Boys27 shared years, 1964–1990
Brendon held the stronger position in 1 of those years, William in 26.
Highest recorded here: Brendon #31 in 1973, William #15 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Brendon #96, William #15.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1973–1993
Brendon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 15.
Highest recorded here: Brendon #71 in 1984, William #24 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Brendon #99, William #24.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Brendon | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2921 (2024) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Brendon does not have one recorded yet.
- Brendon and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Brendon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, NZ.
How each name got here
Brendon
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #96 among boys in New Zealand in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1990
Highest recorded position: #31 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1964–1990).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2921 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys